The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-07

district that blown up and all its inhabitants de-
stroyed and that the catastrophe IS lmnnenI N
DEVELOPMENT in the boring of so many weus. Inc
correspondent who sounds this note of alarm says
sShould explosion occur, there will be such an up
heaval will dwarf the most terrible OF earthquakes
ever known. The country along the gas nett rom
Toledo through Ohio Indiana and Kentucky viii De
ripped up to depth of from .2OO to 500 feet and
Topped over like pancake. leaving chasm through
which the waters of Lake Erie will come bowling
down filing the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, and
blotting them out forever" This is very startling
and to many may appear very plausible. seeing that
the quantity gas that sometimes rushes forth when
these wells opened is so enormous Those, how
ever who have made practical experiments explod-
ing such viii not be prevented from settling IN
the Ohio or Mississippi valley by fear of the
anticipated catastrophe. Lecturers who, like myself
having often shown the old popular experiment of the
pistol will especially appreciate meaning
This is tube through which electric spark may be
passed into mixture of coal gas and ATMOSPHERIC air
The usual mode of showing the experiment is to hold
the tube gas jet for few seconds then CORR it
and pass the spark 1t should explode and shoot out
the cork, but frequently fails. and whyl Simply
such case, removes the cork blows down the tube
otherwise removes some of the gas, and introduces
The fact is that tube, borehole a gaspipe.
gasholder a coal mine filed nearly filled
haified with such gas it viii not explode Even at
the present day the majority of those who the
Of our gas-works imagine that terrible explosion
would occur if light reached their contents The
them when filed with gas the torch would be instantly
extinguished and the gas issuing grom the hole
burn in the air, not the holder It would oe
big gas jet and nothing further,
The Fuel of the Future.
Practical Electricity.
The coal domination has succeeded in making itself
the most odious organization of the kind in this
country. At season when coal is most in demand a
fuel the price mounts up high figure, and for no
sort of reason The mines owned by who
also stockholders in the large railroads that
and the policy of these is invariably the
consumer and TO degrade the unfortunates in their
employ. If there righteous for
indignation the part of the American people, it
lists the misdoings of this notorious combination
and it is matter of surprise that the whole of
nothing better than coal is offered fuel, what
going to do aboutitl For moment, let look at
the matter in another light.
One of coal. costing five dollars, will yield
about 10 900 cubic feet of illuminating gas, such
is distributed to in large cities and towns.
The price of this gas, to is So 25
per ZOO cubic feet. Again. the same ton of coal
can. by another process be converted into 100 600
cubic feet of fuel water gas. That to say if
the gas companies of this. country will take the
public. through their instrument ity, get
benefit out of ton of coal and at greatly diminished
cost To carry the matter further, by onverting
their fuel, water and carbon into fuet gas. the
gas companies proftably produce the electric
light price which will be immeasurably cheaper,
to the public than gas is can be- to-day.
These facts ndisputabe. There is not the
faintest doubt that the coming fuel for the stage
of swiftly developing civilization, will be in gaseous
from, the advantages of which too apparen to
need enumeration. Whether it be fuel for che kitchen,
the workshop. the electric light station, the fact
remains the